Turnbull – What are His Policies?; Stone on Budget; Bob Carter
When an Australian PM makes an obviously pre-prepared address during a visit overseas his main object is not so much to inform his overseas audience as to let his supporters and opponents at home know his thinking about those government policies that are in dispute domestically. The address Turnbull made in Washington to the think-tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies was relevant particularly to his government’s policies on Islamic terrorism and our military involvement in Iraq/Syria –and to his own capacity to deliver them.
Commentary on Turnbull’s Security Statement
PM Turnbull’s National Security Statement tells us that ISIL is “in a fundamentally weak position” and this has “strengthened the resolve of the global community... to defeat it”. But there is apparently a consensus among the leaders he met at recent international meetings against “sending a large US-led Western army to attempt to conquer and hold ISIL controlled areas”.
Some Things are Ruled Out, Some Not
We have now experienced two meetings/summits of world leaders following the Paris terrorist attacks last Friday, one by the G20 in Turkey and one in Manila by those involved in the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (still to be approved by the US Congress). Although there was a general recognition at both meetings that the Islamic State constituted a powerful force and agreement that “something needs to be done” to combat it, no specific combined response was agreed, except that whatever else might be done boots on the ground are ruled out.
Coalition Needs Major Policy Initiative
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It is becoming increasingly difficult to see how Abbott can survive on the basis of existing policies and the way they are presented. After a period of public debate over the Royal Commission, during which Shorten and various unions were exposed as having behaved very poorly, Newspoll is still unchanged on a TPP basis (46/54) and Shorten remains Better PM (41/37). In addition, while 68% want the RC to continue, Heydon himself gets bad marks for his mishandling of the invitation to a Liberal Party function. Further, the support for the China FTA (only 43% and 22% uncommitted) indicates a failure to fully explain that it exposed virtually no risk from foreign-sourced labour ( Robb’s explanations yesterday on the ABC’s Insiders was excellent but he should have been more upfront earlier).
Shorten -More Critiques, incl of Abbott’s Responses
Further developments in the Shorten saga appear in the written media but the ABC seems to have “overlooked” them. The main developments... Read More
Auusterity or Keynesian Stimulus? Or …?
Australia’s GDP figures for the March quarter show an increase of 2.3% seasonally adjusted over the past year, a slightly lower rate... Read More
Political Outcome of the Budget; Treatment of Muslims in Aus; Tackling Islam Activity O’Seas; Immigration Policy
Budget Strategy My letter below, published in the Financial Review five days after the budget, provides some references which briefly illustrate the... Read More
Melbourne’s Active Islamists. Union Powers. Budget Policy Politicised. Climate Change. UK Election
On returning after a break in Canberra (according to my taxi driver nothing much happens there), where I was listening to my... Read More
National Security Statement – Fraser at Estimates Ctee
It is not often that I disagree with Greg Sheridan. But in today’s article (below) he is being too timid. Counter-terrorism policy... Read More
Religious Influence on Violent Extremism; Fraser on Budget
As expected, Abbott’s statement on national security produced critics, with the ABC’s 7.30 report sinking to depths not previously experienced (see transcript... Read More